Improvement in car-couplings



'F. H. FICKETT.

CAR-c:OUPLINGS.i

No. 194,514.v `lmermga Aug. 28,1877.

PATENT (")EEIoEfI FRANKLIN" H FICKETT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OFONEHAL HIS RIGHT TO JOHN REID, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPRovEMENT IN CAR-couPuNes.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,514, dated August28,1877 application filed i December 6, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANKLIN H. FroKETT, ofChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and I, do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, which will en able others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification. l

My improvements relate to the class of couplers which, while madeautomatic, are also so constructed that they are adapted for use withthe ordinary link and bolt, so that where my coupler is applied to eachof two` connecting-cars, either of such cars may yet be readily coupledto any otherl car which has adaptation only for such ordinary link andbolt.

My improvement consists in a special means for locking the hooks out ofaction when desired, and as readily bringing them into action, andwithout going between the cars for these purposes, and whether the carsbe running or standing, affording a quick means of disconnection.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved coupler, one of the hooksbeing shown in dotted lines in its elevated position. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of one of the draw-heads, a portion being cut away at thedotted lines y y, shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a top view of one of thedraw-heads, and with a common link and bolt applied thereto. y

The draw-head Ais made in a single casting, and with its top part at itsforward end depressed, so as to leave side walls b b, a central wall,and a solid rear wall, c, all rising above the solid bed g, the rearpart of such bed being provided with one small recess or cavity, d,adapted to receive the pivotal end of a couplinghook, d', and withanother but larger cavity, e, adapted to receive the catch f of anothercoupling-hook of similar make. The bottoms of these recesses or cavitiesd and c are solid, having no openings therein and the only openingthrough the bottom of the draw- 'head is the opening 7c for thereception of an ordinary coupling-bolt, 7a2, hereinafter named.

The catch f is made on its inner 'or hooking face with an unbroken curveextending to its tip, this curve being about in thearc-of a circle ofwhich the axis of the coupling-hook is the center, so that when it isdesirable to lift it, even when the train is running, it can easily bedone so as to uncouple7 without taking the slack of thetrain,77 providedthere is not too great a longitudinal strain upon the drawheads. t 4

When the coupling-hook is down it rests,by gravity, on the solid portionor bed g ofthe drawhead, which is more than broad enough both to supportit and also its fellow coupling-hook -h of the draw-head of anothercar,the catches ff of the respective couplers ofthe two drawheadsdropping each intoY its own cavity c, which cavity inclines somewhatforward and downward, to adapt it to the character of the hook, and toinsure a good hold. Between the two cavities d and c is a short raisedpart or partition, ,the front end of which is rounded or beveled oi, asshown at j, the bevel being at one side only, the object of the bevelbeing to insure the guiding or deflecting of the coupling-hook of thedraw-head of another car away from the other hook, and into its owncavity or eye.

The center of the bed g is provided with a bolt-hole, 7o, adapted forthe ordinary bolt k2 and link k3 of the common draw-heads, and beneaththe same bed gis a recess, g', suitable for the reception of an ordinarycoupling-link, these features rendering the draw-head capable of beingused as and with the draw-heads now in very general use, while notinterfering in the least with the automatic coupling-hook abovedescribed, nor in the least interfered with by it, inasmuch as thesehooks are adapted, as will now be described, to be locked up out of usewhen the car is to be connected to a car having the common draw-head.

Two linked chains, l, are connected with the coupler-hook, and they passthrough clasps m, provided with guide rollers n, one such clasp beingapplied, as shown, to the dead wood,77 and the others to the end of thecar,

near its corners, so as to have the chain accessible to an attendant,either at the sides or at the top of the car, without endangering hislife or limb by going between ears. Y

The clasps at the ends or top of the car are each provided with agravitating or weighted dog or clutch, o, whose function is, inconnection with the chain, to hold up the couplinghook out of operativeaction when itis not engaged, or to be engaged with, the oppositedraw-head. The chain being pulled and the hook thus lifted, the dognearest the person so lifting is to be thrown against the chain, and theweight of the hook, pulling downward, locks it, and thus the hook isheld up.

When it is desired to place the hook again in position to couple, it maybe instantly and readily done by pulling upon the hand-rin g lo ofeither of the chains, which will at once release the hold of the dog,and permit the hook to drop into position.

When my improved draw-head is coupled to an ordinary link and boltdraw-head, it is desirable to have the hook kept in its raised position.To effect this I provide each dog with a pin, q, and, by catching a linkof either chain to one of such pins, the hook cannot drop until againdetached from such pin.

It will be observed that this improved drawhead is very strong, althoughuniting two kinds of couplers in one, and is of about ordinary size, andthat it is easily and cheaply made, and adapted to be applied to anycar, and, when applied, to be available for coupling with cars to whichit has not been applied.

It will also be observed that the inner face of the catches f has noabruptterminal or other projection to prevent its riding over the edgeof cavity e when the hook is lifted, and that neither hook engages itscatch with the bolt or pin, which serves as the axis and support of theother hook, but that the whole of its tractile force is exerted directlyupon the body of the draw-head itself. It will also be noticed thatneither hook is dependent on the other; that both draw equally, and if,by any accident, the short pivotal' pin or bolt r of either hook shouldget dislodged or broken,it will not tend to disturb the hold of thecatch of the other hook.

It will also be observed that I employ no lever, fulcrum-pin, or otherdevice within the draw-head itself, either to lock the couplinghook downwhen the cars are coupled, or to hold it up when they are uncoupled, andthat the head is therefore not weakened by making any cavity therein toreceive such device.

A metal plate, s, having an opening suicient to permit the shank orstock tof the draw-head to play freely through it, is firmly secured tothe end or dead wood of the car,

vand it is of a length and breadth about equal to that of the rear wallof the draw-head; and when the draw-head is forced back against itsspring (not necessary to be shown) this at plate receives the impact ofthe blow or concussion, and not only prevents damage to the wood, butalso tends to an equal distribution of the force, and preventsindentation 'of the wood from the edges of the rear wall c.

I claim- In combination with the gravitating coupling-hook, and itslifting-chains and clasps, the dog or clutch o (one or more) applied andoperating substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

FRANKLIN H. FIOKETT. Witnesses:

J oHN W. REID, J. 0. ROBINSON.

